As Walmart continues to seek to provide convenient services for its customers and contribute to reducing emissions in the communities where it operates, the retailer announced on Wednesday the installation of eight Electrify America electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its Ooltewah Supercenter at 5588 Little Debbie Parkway. The EV chargers are Walmart’s first in the state, and are operational and ready for customers to use.
Following a simple “plug-pay-charge-go” sequence, users are guided through their experience by the 15-inch touchscreen on each charger.
· After plugging in their EV, users initiate a new charging session by simply inserting or swiping their credit or debit card.
· Users are also given the option to provide their mobile phone number for convenient SMS notifications for in-session monitoring and session receipt delivery.
· In-session information as provided by their vehicle, and as provided by the Electrify America network, will be clearly displayed on the charger’s touchscreen.
Walmart plans to expand its EV charging station sites with the addition of several hundred Electrify America chargers across its operations in 36 states. This expansion will bring Walmart’s total number of chargers to well over 1,000 when complete, making Walmart one of the nation’s leading EV charging station hosts and creating a national grid of electric vehicle charging availability at hundreds of Walmart stores and Sam’s Club locations.
“Along with providing our customers with an enhanced shopping experience through added convenience, this initiative also allows us to contribute to the expansion of our nation’s EV charging station infrastructure,” said Mark Vanderhelm, vice president of Energy for Walmart, Inc. “Many of our Walmart associates and customers are EV drivers, so providing access to these stations is the right thing to do for our customers, our business and the environment.”
Walmart’s EV charging station expansion will provide customers with added convenience as several of the new units will feature chargers that can charge a car in between 10 and 30 minutes. This initiative is part of Walmart’s continuing evolution to help busy families and create a more resourceful and enjoyable one-stop retail experience that allows customers to charge their vehicles as they shop.
The EV expansion program is part of the company’s larger commitment to use its size and scale for good and do business in a way that aims to enhance economic opportunity, encourage sustainability and strengthen local communities. Read more in the Walmart 2018 Global Responsibility Report.